Combined trunk and seat.



H. MoLEOD.

COMBINED TRUNK AND SEAT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1911.

1,124,769. Patented Jan.12, 1915.

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INVENTOR.

'I/l/l/J/l/IA W maxim m BY v f pww l A TTORNEYJ,

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTG-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C.

H. MOLEOD.

COMBINED TRUNK AND SEAT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1911.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

KCPZZESISES:

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHnTO-L!THO., WASHINGTON. D, C,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH MoLEoD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residin g at Hatfield, in the county of Hampshire and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Combined Trunk and Seat,of which the following is a specification.

ily invention relates to improvements in seats of the convertible type,and takes the form of a combination chest, box or trunk and seat, or ofa chest, boX or trunk that can be changed to a seat, and back again intoa chest, box or trunk, the same being particularly designed and intendedfor use in connection with automobiles.

Said invention comprises a certain peculiar box-like receptacle, whichpreferably simu lates a trunk in external appearance, and the lowerportion of which is designed to be permanently secured to the floor ofan automobile, seat-forming members attached to or connected orassociated with such receptacle and practically constituting constituentparts thereof, and mechanism for supporting the seat proper in either oftwo positions, together with such subsidiary and auxiliary elements ormembers as may be needed to render the invention complete, saidseat-forming members being receivable in said receptacle, and saidmechanism being operable from outside of the receptacle, all ashereinafter set forth.

The object of my invention is to provide for an automobile body aconvertible receptacle so constructed that, while always ready for useand serviceable in its capacity as a receptacle for various articles,which latter are easily accessible because of the structural nature andthe position of the receptacle, in a comparatively short period of timeand with little effort a convenient seat can be developed or producedfrom said receptacle, which seat can be as readily displacedand causedto disappear into the receptacle so as to be completely concealed fromview.

A further object is to substitute, for the unsightly and uncomfortablerumble seat commonly employed in a certain type of automobile, atastefully appearing trunk or what closely resembles a trunk and ingreat measure can be utilized as such, from which a large, comfortable,strong and shapely seat can be produced when needed, or which can beconverted into such a seat without difficulty.

HUGH MGLEOD, 0F HATFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AN 20: TQ.

COMBINED TRUNK AND SEAT.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

A preferred form of embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and I will proceed to describe the invention withreference to the latter, although it is to be understood that the form,construction, arrangement, etc., of the parts in various aspects are notmaterialand may be modified without departing from o the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings, in whichlike numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a perspective of the combinedtrunk and seat, only the trunk feature appearing; Fig. 2, a longitudinalvertical section through the combined trunk and seat, looking toward thefront, the seat elements being depressed, folded, closed and inclosed,as in the first view; Fig. 3, a vertical cross-section taken on lines38, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 2; Fig. 4,a detail is broken away to show one of the back-extension pins in full.

As already intimated, the box or chest which I use is preferably gottenup to resemble more or less closely a trunk, for the purpose ofenhancing the appearance of the same and of the automobile which carriesit, and to such end real or imitation handles, 1, straps, 2, cornerprotectors, 4:, and other trappings and trimmings may be applied on theoutside of such chest. These trappings and trimmings are merelyincidental to my invention, and may, of course, be altered'to anv extentor omitted altogether.

The chest or trunk comprises a bottom section 5, which is intended to berigidly fastened to the floor of an automobile at the back, and an uppersection 6. The front side of the upper section 6 is hinged at 7 to thefront side of the lower section 5, so that,

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

- Application filed .l'une 30, 1911. Serial No. 636,197.

suflicient extent, access is had to the space within the trunk which isbelow the seatoperating mechanism presently to be described. Cornerposts 8 are provided in the bottom section to assist the hinges 7 inholding the upper section against endwise and lateral movement whenclosed, which they do because they project above the upper edges of saidbottom section and then extend into said-upper section. The uppersection 6 has a top piece or lid 9 that is provided at its back edgewith an angular eX- tension 10, the back side and ends of said sectionbeing cut away to accommodate such i, extension when said lid is inplace over said section. The extension 10 is hinged at 11 to the backside of the section 6. The top piece 9 constitutes a cover for and theactual top of the trunk, also the back of the seat, and the extension 10is provided so that, when said top piece is swung upward on the hinges11, into a vertical position, it is moved rearwardly for a distanceequal to the breadth of said extension and increases the width of theseat approximately to that extent-see Fig. 7.

Adapted to fit within the top section 6 and; supported by and on twooscillatory lifters 12 is a seat member 13, this being the seat properof the combination. The lifters 12 are rigidly attached to or mounted ontwo shafts 14 and 15 which extend transversely ofjthe section 6 and areournaled in bearings '16 and 17 secured to the front and back sides ofsaid section. Two offset straps,

keepers or bridge-pieces 18 are fastened to the underside of the seat 13and extend longitudinally of such seat a little back of the longitudinalcenter of the same, and two links 19 connect the lifters 12 with saidbridge pieces. Each link 19 is U-shaped and has it ends let into arecess 20, in the free longitudinal edge of one of the lifters 12, andfastened to the sides of such recess, while the middle portion of saidlink engages one of the bridge-pieces or keepers 18 and is adapted toslide in the space between the keeper'and the seat 13. The recesses 20in the free edges of the lifters accommodate the keepers or straps18 andpermit the said free edges directly to engage and support the seat. Thepurpose of the links 19 and the keepers 18 is to afford positive meansfor depressing the seat 13, in the event said seat fails to follow'downon the lifters 12 when they are turned into the-horizontal position, aswillpresently appear. The loops 19 extend laterally from the plane ofthe lifters 12 and fl'ush'with the'free edges thereof, so that suchedges can engage with the seat without the loops interfering, and by theloops extending laterally, they permit the lifters to drop to ahorizontal position, as shown in Fig. '2. The'shafts 14 and 15 onwhich'thelifters are secured limit the downward movement of the seat,and-hence the shafts form the seat rest, and furthermore the shaftssupport the weight in both its raised and lowered positions. It may beobserved, in passing, that the seat 13 is loosely contained in the upperchest section and has no attachments except those afforded by the linksand keepers.

A horizontal rack 21 is slidingly mounted. against the front side of thesection 6, inside of said section, in brackets 22-22 which. are securedto said front side. A third bracket 23, also secured to the inner faceof the front side of the section 6, may be provided to afford additionalsupport for the rack 21 from above. Abutment blocks 242 l are secured onthe inside of the front of the section 6, in line with the rack 21, andarranged to limit the reciprocatory movement of said rack. Secured onthe shafts 14: and 15 are two pinions 25 which mesh with the rack 21,the lifters 13 being cut away, if necessary, to accommodate saidpinions, as shown at 26 in Fig. 3. The shaft 15 extends through thefront side of the upper section and has a handle 27 rigidly attached tothe protruding front terminal thereof.

The right block or stop 24, Figs. 2 and 4, is so positioned that whenthe rack bar 21 engages therewith, the upper or free edges of thelifters are vertically in line with. the axes of the shafts 1-1 and 15,so that the seat will sustain the weight of a person without anytendency of its collapsing or dropping.

The arrangement of the parts is such that, when the lifters 12 aredisposed horizontally, the seat 13 is in its low position in the trunkand at rest on the then upper sides of said lifters, and, when saidlifters are disposed vertically, said seat is in its high position andat rest on the then upper edges of said lifters ready for use;furthermore, in the first instance the rack 21 is at one end of itstravel against one of the abutment-s 24:, and in the second instancesaid rack is at the other end of its travel against the other of saidabutments. The lifters 12 are operated in unison by means of the handle27 and through the medium of the shaft 15 and the pinion 25 thereon, therack 21, the other pinion 25, and the shaft 14:. WVhen the lifters arethrown upward the free longitudinal edges thereof, which edges arepreferably round, bear beneath the seat 13 and the latter rides on suchedges until elevated to its high position on a level approximately withthe upper edges of the section 6, the lifters then standing vertically,and the seat rides down on said edges in the same manner when thelifters are turned down again. The links 19 slide freely along thekeepers 18, whenever the lifters are swung in either direction, but whensaid lifters are turned down said links carry the seat with them.

Having one end hinged at 28 to the top piece 9 adjacent to each endthereof is an arm 29. The opposite end of each arm 29 is provided with apost or stud 30 so located and arranged that it can enter and extendthrough an opening 31 in the upper part of a flat lug 32 secured to theadjacent end of the section 6, and be there secured by a cotter-pin 33passed through an opening in the end of said stud that projects beyondsaid lug. The arms 29 are adapted either to fold against the front sideof the top piece 9, when said top piece is in a vertical position, or tobe opened outward and have their studs 30 engaged with the lugs 32 inthe manner just explained. The strong and firm engagement thus affordedis responsible for maintaining the top piece in an upright position toform the back for the seat 13.

Each arm 29 is equipped with an arm-rest 3%, which is hinged to such armat 3535, and with a supporting bracket 36 for such arm-rest, whichbracket is mounted to swing in bearings 37 secured to said arm on theoutside. These parts are so arranged that the arm-rests 341: can beswung into right-angular relation to the arms 29, and the brackets 36swing into supporting relationship with said arm-rests, all as clearlyshown in Figs. 6 and 7. Grooves 38 may be cut in each arm 29 to receivethe bracket, with which said arm is provided, when said bracket is swungin against said arm at the time the seat-forming members are folded.

From the foregoing it is plain that the brackets 36 can be folded intothe grooves 38 in the outer sides of the arms 29, swinging in theirbearings 37, the arm-rests 34: turned down on their hinges 35 againstthe aforesaid outer sides of the arms, the latter swung inward on theirhinges 28 against the top piece 9, and said top piece closed over thesection 6, swinging on the hinges 11, with the collapsed or foldedmembers within said section, provided the seat 13 be in the lowposition, such collapsed or folded members thus being stored, as itwere, in the upper part of the trunk.

An extension 39 may be provided for the top piece 9, to increase theheight of such top piece when in operative position as the back for theseat 13, and so enhance the comfort of the seat. The back extension 39is preferably made in two or more parts so that it can be folded andpacked away when not in use, either in the trunk or elsewhere; and saidextension is provided with a plurality of bottom dowels or pins 40 thatare received into suitable vertical openings in the upper edge of theback (top piece) 9, when said extension is in use, to retain the same inplace on said back.

The top piece 9, seat 13, extension 39,

= and any other parts if deemed advisable,

may be upholstered in any suitable manner. WVherever upholstery appearsin the drawings it is to be considered as forming a part of the memberwith which it is united.

In practice, the trunk is converted into the seat by opening or raisingthe top piece or lid 9 to form the back, opening out the arms 29 andfastening them-to the lugs 32, swinging the arm-rests 3-1 intohorizontal position and securing them in such position by means of thebrackets 36, and, at this or any time after raising said top piece,turning the handle 27, from the vertical position which it occupies inFig. 3 to the horizontal position which it occupies in Figs. 6 and 7, toelevate the seat 13 by means of the intervening mechanism. If theextension 39 is required, it is now mounted on the member 9.

To restore the parts to their former positions and conditions or toconvert the seat into the trunk, turn up the handle 27 again and sodepress the seat 13, lift off the extension 39, provided the same beused, fold the brackets 36 and the arm-rests 34:, unfasten the arms 29and fold them also, and close the top piece or lid 9. The transformingor converting operations are very simple and can be easily and quicklyperformed.

The straps 2 do not extend across the juncture at the back of the trunkbetween the sections-5 and 6, nor across the juncture at the frontbetween the section 6 and the top piece 9, consequently do not interferewith opening the trunk to get at the interior of the same below the seat13 and the operating mechanism therefor, nor with raising the top piece.The section 6 can be opened on the hinges 7 when the seat-formingmembers are in operative position as well as when they are inoperativelydisposed. The lifters 12 have transverse grooves ll in them to receivethe keepers 18 when the seat 13 is resting on the contiguous sides ofsaid lifters.

Not only may the extension 39 be omitted altogether, but the arm restsand the brackets therefor as well, and the combination would be quiteserviceable even without the arms, all of these members, however, andmore especially the arms and arm-rests, render the seat much morecomfortable and convenient than, would be the case in their absence.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a body; an endwise movable bar arrangedlongitudinally within said body and supported against one wall thereof,said bar being provided upon its upper face with two sets of rack teeth;a pair of transversely-arranged horizontal shafts journaled in said bodyand projecting at one end above and across said sets of teeth; a pinionsecured to each shaft and meshing with the adjacent set of teeth; alaterally-disposed lifter secured at its inner end to the centralportion of each shaft; a vertically-movable seat disposed within saidbody above the plane of said shafts; a pair of longitudinal keeperssecured to the under face of said seat directly above said lifters andin endwise alinenient with each other, the free outer ends of saidlifters being slidably connected with said keepers; and an operatingelement secured to one end of one of said shafts.

2. The combination of abody; an endwisemovable bar arrangedlongitudinally within said body, and supported against one wall thereof,said bar being provided upon its upper face with two sets of rack teeth;stops secured to said wall in alinelnent with said bar and adjacent tothe opposite ends thereof, to limit the movements of the bar in oppositedirections; a pair of trans versely-arranged horizontal shafts ournaledin said body and projecting at one end above each other; a link mountedin the recess in the outer end of each lifter and slidingly engaged withthe adjacent keeper, said keepers being adapted to enter the grooves insaid lifters when said seat is in its normal owered position; and anoperating element secured to one end of one of said shafts.

HUGH MGLEOD.

Witnesses F. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 8.

